Battery troubles

Topic: Battery troubles (Read 1461 times) previous topic - next topic

Battery troubles

August 22, 2006, 11:55:09 PM

After 3 months of unwanted sitting, I pulled the Cougar out. Battery was done, had to jump it everytime, no matter how long I drove it/charged it. Hooked it up to a Machine at the Mechanics shop/part of the dealership I work at. He said the battery was done, obviously, its a Walmart cheapo 1 year. He put the alternator under a heavy load, and it was pushing 52 amps, not bad for a stock alternator I would think.

Question: When do you need to change your alternator? I dont really trust this one, especially since its 22 years old, has 112,000 miles on it, and my subs didnt help it any. Ive been considering the 3G upgrade, or atleast something bigger.

Battery troubles

Reply #1 – August 23, 2006, 12:13:13 AM

I put a 90 amp alternator in my Bird because of all the extra electrical stuff that I have added, I wanted to make sure my battery stayed charged. The problem that I ran into was that the bigger alternator didnt fit exactly like it should have. I had to bend one of the mounting brackets out a bit to fit it in there, and even then I cant tighten the alternator belt up as much as I really need to. Now, if I lay on the gas, when the car shifts the alternator belt squeaks right as the engine is dropping rpms. Its kinda funny, I had a kid in a neon pull up next to me and ask if I had a turbo cause he thought the chirp was a blow-off valve. I laughed.

Anyways, I had to change the connector on the wire leading to the alternator as well as replacing the belt. It wasnt too much trouble except for that bracket and I think it really helps when my fog lamps, stereo, and head lamps are on.

Battery troubles

Reply #2 – August 23, 2006, 12:17:41 AM

If you can start your car, disconnect the battery, and the car still runs, the alternator is working. That's the quick, cheap, and possibly dangerous way to find out.

Battery troubles

Reply #3 – August 23, 2006, 08:10:40 PM

Quote from: Paul Flockhart

If you can start your car, disconnect the battery, and the car still runs, the alternator is working. That's the quick, cheap, and possibly dangerous way to find out.

Thats how I test all alternators. Ive done that several times on each of my cars.

I actually hooked it up to a machine that tests alternators. It will put them under a certain "load", and will tell you how many amps it will actually "push". Mine is pushing 52 amps. Its 22 years old.

Battery troubles

Reply #4 – August 24, 2006, 04:05:40 PM

I installed the 3G alternator in my 83. Glad I did. If your 84 has the same bracketry as an 83 and you use the 3G off a Taurus like I did (a 95) you should be prepared to drill out the top ear of the alt just slightly so the stock bolt will slip through it. Also in my case the larger 3G struck against a welded nut in the lower slide bracket. I just cut off that part of the bracket and did away with the little brace that runs from the lower bracket to the block. Then to properly tension the alt belt I left the slide bracket's remaining bolt loose so it would pivot to accomodate the alternator. I tightened it down afterwards. If you want I can post pictures.

Battery troubles

Reply #5 – August 24, 2006, 09:11:36 PM

Pics would be great. How much $ did the whole setup run you?

Battery troubles

Reply #6 – August 24, 2006, 11:59:37 PM

Well it's dark and raining right now but I'll be sure to favour you with some pics tomorrow. Let's see..expenses....
-$15.00(CAD) for the alternator from a 95 Taurus 3.8 at Pick'nPull. You're sure to find lots of 90s range Taurus's though and most probably have the alternator. There's a list of donors somewhere on here along with some websites on the subject.
-$6.00 for a 4 gauge bat cable to run from the + on the alternator to the starter relay
-Like $8.00 for a big drill bit to enlarge the top ear hole, I think it was 7/16 but I'll let you know
-Miscellaneous for electrical butt connectors to make the connections
-$5.00 for a 175 A Megafuse. I screwed it to the starter relay and attached the bat cable to it...
.....that's about it
I got the alternator tested at Partsource to verify it worked. Most of the headache was trying to piece together what to connect to where from pages that were written for Mustangs and Broncos but in the end it was remarkably simple to hook up, just make sure you take the alt's harness connectors when you get it. My original post asking about the wiring is still here, you should be able to dig it up easy. Enjoy.

Battery troubles

Reply #7 – August 25, 2006, 11:48:41 AM

I got the 3g 130amp for a mustang 5.0 94. I almost bolted in just had to tap the hole on the alt and get a bolt to fit it on the small end. Then I also bought the plug for the regulator on the newer alt. I just did a search on the net for 3g swap. to get the wiring right. but when I went out there to do it I found that the factory external regulator was labeled with the same lettering as the new alt internal regulator. Just cut the wire to the factory regulator then wire to same letter on the alt then also did the 4ga power cable with the fuse to the starter relay neaxt to the battery. works great. I know mine is a turbo coupe 4 banger but here is a pic. looks good too.

Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Battery troubles

August 22, 2006, 11:55:09 PM

Battery troubles

Reply #1 – August 23, 2006, 12:13:13 AM

Battery troubles

Reply #2 – August 23, 2006, 12:17:41 AM

Battery troubles

Reply #3 – August 23, 2006, 08:10:40 PM

Battery troubles

Reply #4 – August 24, 2006, 04:05:40 PM

Battery troubles

Reply #5 – August 24, 2006, 09:11:36 PM

Battery troubles

Reply #6 – August 24, 2006, 11:59:37 PM

Battery troubles

Reply #7 – August 25, 2006, 11:48:41 AM

Battery troubles

Reply #8 – August 25, 2006, 09:15:00 PM

Battery troubles

Reply #9 – August 25, 2006, 09:19:05 PM